What
is the Compliance Check/Alcohol Purchase Survey Database?
The
Compliance Check/Alcohol Purchase Survey Database is a tool that law enforcement
agencies and community groups can use to track illegal sales to minors
by retailers. This database is designed so that individuals from
local enforcement agencies and community groups may enter their data from
either compliance checks or alcohol purchase surveys
directly into the system (For an explanation on the difference between
a compliance check and an alcohol purchase database, click
here). It is intended that the local official or individual
most familiar with the local data will be able to enter the data into
the system
These
operations involve sending minors or young-looking adults into stores
to purchase alcohol. In this way, law enforcement agencies and community
members can find out who is selling alcoholic beverages to our children
The OJJDP
Guide to Conducting Alcohol Purchase Surveys includes
in Appendix 3 (page 62) a Data Collection Form for completion following
alcohol purchase attempts by a minor or young-looking adult during alcohol
sales enforcement actions or compliance surveys. This form collects information
for a current, existing database and software which has been designed
to permit immediate opportunities for data analysis, interpretation, and
reporting. The database is especially helpful for analysis of survey and
enforcement findings, and for comparison of findings over time.
Why
do Compliance Checks and/or Alcohol Purchase Surveys?
Illegal
sales to minors can be prevented, but most communities need valid information
in order to do the most effective job of prevention. Alcohol purchase
surveys can provide this information. They also:
- Tell us who is selling
to minors and how often, - Raise community awareness
and build support for reducing sales to minors, - Inform merchants that they
are being monitored by the community, - Aid law enforcement, and
- Help monitor the impact
of prevention strategies.
How do you use the Database?
First, you will need to fill out an information
sheet and request an ID and a password (see below for information on how
to obtain an ID and password). Once you request to use the database,
your ID and password will be sent to you via email. You then simply
fill out the information requested in the database. Prior to your
next compliance check or alcohol purchase survey, you should familiarize
yourself with the questions that are asked in the database and you may
want to print a copy of the database and take that with you on your next
operation.
After
the compliance check or purchase survey, please fill out the information
requested in the database and submit. The information for that operation
is now stored in the database and you have access to the program for data
entry, analysis, and reports. You will only have access to the information
that you enter.
